{"id":15262,"date":"2025-05-14T05:12:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T05:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/inside-ebays-push-to-become-a-fashion-destination\/"},"modified":"2025-05-14T05:12:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T05:12:15","slug":"inside-ebays-push-to-become-a-fashion-destination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/inside-ebays-push-to-become-a-fashion-destination\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Ebay\u2019s Push to Become a \u2018Fashion Destination\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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There was a time when Ebay<\/strong> was effectively the only game in town for online resale, but the platform faces lots of competition today \u2014 particularly in fashion, where newer competitors such as ThredUp, Poshmark<\/strong> and Rebag <\/strong>are rapidly gaining ground. Even more generalized platforms like Etsy, TikTok Shop <\/strong>and Facebook Marketplace<\/strong> have seen an influx of vintage fashion offerings as secondhand shopping has grown in popularity overall. As a result, the availability of vintage and secondhand fashions online has increased exponentially in recent years, both on Ebay and beyond.<\/p>\n

Fashion always has been a part of the Ebay mix; in fact, in 2024 nearly 40%<\/strong> of all the clothing, shoes and accessories sold on the platform were listed as pre-loved, and global users searched for \u201cvintage\u201d items more than 1,200<\/strong> times per minute. The supply is there, as is the consumer demand. The problem now is getting consumers to think of Ebay first when they are on the hunt for pre-loved fashion and<\/em> helping customers sift through all the options when they get there.<\/p>\n

Raising Ebay\u2019s Profile as a Fashion Authority<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Promo shot for the Ebay Pre-Loved fashion event earlier this year. (Image courtesy Ebay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Ebay has been working on this challenge for several years, beginning with the debut of a range of new consignment and authentication services to enhance consumers\u2019 confidence in their purchases, especially those on the high end. The company also has been working hard to raise both its own profile and that of fashion resale as a whole: Last year Ebay lobbied for the institution of a Recommerce Day holiday in a campaign fronted by \u201890s fashion icon Alicia Silverstone, and earlier this year Ebay hosted a special event with Elton John to sell items from his famed closet for charity, then debuted Pre-Loved Fashion Shows in tandem with the New York and London Fashion Weeks.<\/p>\n

Ebay\u2019s latest sally in driving home its fashion authority is the appointment of celebrity stylist Brie Welch as its new Resident Stylist<\/strong> and the release of a new regular trend report called the Ebay Watchlist<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith so much assortment, today\u2019s shoppers are looking for more than just options; they want help navigating them,\u201d said Alexis Hoopes, VP and Global Head of Fashion at Ebay in an interview with Retail TouchPoints<\/em>. \u201cBy introducing a Resident Stylist and the Ebay Watchlist, we\u2019re turning our vast selection into curated discovery, driven by data around shopper habits<\/strong> \u2014 making it easier for buyers to explore, get inspired and express their personal style. It\u2019s how we evolve our marketplace into a true fashion destination.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Celebrity Stylist for Secondhand Enthusiasts<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Brie Welch, new Resident Stylist at Ebay. (Image courtesy Ebay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

A stylist\u2019s ultimate job (for those lucky enough to be able to afford one) is curation, helping clients find the on-trend fashions that also will fit their body, aesthetic and lifestyle. With her appointment as Ebay\u2019s Resident Stylist, Welch will bring her fashion expertise to the masses. Welch also will curate Ebay-sourced fashion selections at events like the F1 Miami, where she will be styling fashion model Winnie Harlow.<\/p>\n

Drawing on her experience styling high-profile clients like Katie Holmes and brands like Bulgari, Givenchy<\/strong> and Ferragamo<\/strong>, Welch will serve as Ebay\u2019s fashion authority, identifying trends, offering expert commentary and spotlighting Ebay\u2019s assortment of pre-loved branded fashion.<\/p>\n

New York-based Welch isn\u2019t the first stylist to offer up fashion advice to Ebay\u2019s customers. The company also works with LA-based stylist Maeve Reilly and Amy Bannerman in the UK. <\/p>\n

Watchlist Highlights Fashion Trends (and Helps Shoppers Find Them on Ebay)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Image courtesy Ebay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The new Ebay Watchlist will serve as a foundation for Welch\u2019s efforts. Based on insights drawn from Ebay\u2019s nearly 134 million<\/strong> users and 2.3 billion<\/strong> listings, the Watchlist will be a recurring series with multiple editions published every year to reflect shifts in shopping behaviors and trends, said Hoopes, who added that because the report is based on real-time data it has the potential to \u201coffer powerful insights into what\u2019s trending culturally and stylistically each season.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEbay is my not-so-secret style hack for unearthing those one-of-a-kind gems that instantly add personality to a look,\u201d said Welch in a statement. \u201cEvery pre-loved piece comes with its own little backstory, which makes curating an outfit feel way more intentional and fun. With the Ebay Watchlist, I\u2019m spotlighting the emerging trends that are shaping the fashion landscape \u2014 and showing how seamlessly pre-loved finds can fit into a modern wardrobe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Highlights from the inaugural edition of the Watchlist include:<\/p>\n